The Citadel 5, South Carolina 3 (11 inn.)
COLUMBIA, S.C. ? Bryan Altman went 4-for-6 and TJ Clarkson struck out a career-high seven batters as The Citadel defeated South Carolina, 5-3, in 11 innings in front of 6,923 at Carolina Stadium Wednesday night. The win clinched the season series sweep over the Gamecocks, the first time The Citadel has swept South Carolina since 1961.
The Bulldog defense prevented South Carolina from scoring with bases loaded in the 10th and 11th innings in The Citadel’s first game played at the new Carolina Stadium. Meanwhile the Bulldog offense scored five runs on 13 hits while capitalizing on three Gamecock errors. South Carolina scored three runs in the first five innings of the game, recording 10 hits overall.
The top four hitters in The Citadel line-up all recorded multiple hits while Chris McGuiness, batting fifth, was walked a season-high four times. His 47 walks this season makes McGuiness the national leader in the walks category.
The win, along with The Citadel’s 12-5 win over South Carolina on March 31 in Charleston, marked the first time The Citadel has swept the season series over South Carolina since 1961. The Bulldogs have also recorded consecutive wins over Carolina since the 1961-62 seasons.
Matt Reifsnider (1-1) was credited with the win after allowing no runs on two hits and walking three in 1.0 inning on the mound. Raymond Copenhaver (2) earned the save after retiring the final three batters in the game. Freshman TJ Clarkson, in his third career start, allowed the only three Carolina runs on eight hits while striking out a career-best seven batters in the no decision.
Parker Bangs (1-2) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in 2.0 innings on the mound for Carolina.
“We played a good ballgame tonight and TJ Clarkson showed some poise on the mound,” said Bulldogs head coach Fred Jordan. “It was a good win for our players and probably a better win for our fans, many of which traveled here for tonight’s game. We were very fortunate to turn the double play in the 10th inning.”
South Carolina jumped out to an early lead in the first when Whit Merrifield singled to left center to lead off the bottom half of the inning. DeAngelo Mack followed with a single to short, allowing Merrifield to advance to second. After Nick Ebert flied out to left field, Jackie Bradley, Jr. drove in Merrifield with a single up the middle.
The Citadel struck back in the top of the fifth, taking the 2-1 lead as Nick Orvin led off with a single to right center. After Bryan Altman flied out to center, Sonny Meade singled to right field, sending Orvin to third. After Richard Jones struck out, Chris McGuiness hit a two-out single to right field to drive in Orvin. A throwing error by Andrew Crisp allowed David Greene to reach base and Meade scored on the play.
The Gamecocks regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with Merrifield again leading off with a single, this time to right. After Mack struck out, Merrifield went to third on a single to right by Ebert. Bradley, Jr. grounded to second, which allowed Merrifield to score and Ebert to take second. A single to left field by Parker Bangs sent Ebert home, but Bangs was immediately thrown out on the play at second as William Ladd threw the ball to Altman at second with time to spare.
In the top of the eighth, Sid Fallaw led off with a single to the left field corner. Brian Shubsda pinch ran for Fallaw and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Jordan. A groundout to short by Nick Orvin sent Shubsda to third. Altman drove Shubsda home as he ripped a single to left center as the Bulldogs tied the game at 3-3 and entering the Bulldogs into a program record seventh extra-inning game of the season.
South Carolina threatened in the bottom of the 10th with the bases loaded and one out but Bradley, Jr. grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
The Citadel broke open the game in the top of the 11th with Altman leading off the inning with a single to center. Meade followed with a single to center as Altman went to third. Meade went to second and Altman scored on the play as Bradley, Jr. misplayed the ball in center, allowing the Bulldogs to take the 4-3 lead.
Richard Jones kept the Bulldog rally alive with a single through the right side, sending Meade to third. McGuiness was then awarded his personal-best fourth walk of the game to load the bases for The Citadel. David Greene hit a shallow fly ball to left field, giving the Bulldogs their first out of the inning. William Ladd then hit into a fielder’s choice at second as Carolina forced Meade out at home. Ladd barely beat the throw to first on the attempted double play, leaving the bases loaded. Trey Thomas, who came in to pinch hit in the 10th inning for Shubsda, took a first pitch hit by pitch and was credited with an RBI as Jones scored from third.
South Carolina again threatened in the bottom half of the inning as Reifsnider allowed a pair of singles and walked a batter to load the bases. Copenhaver took the mound and Brady Thomas immediately lined out to McGuiness at third. Pinch hitter Michael Roth popped up to second base and Merrifield grounded out to second as the Bulldogs clinched the victory.
The Citadel returns to action on Friday, April 17 as the Bulldogs play at UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m. in the start of a three-game Southern Conference series. The final two games of the series ? on Saturday and Sunday ? will be broadcast on SportsRadio 1450AM in Charleston and on Bulldog Insider at CitadelSports.com.
Samford 14, Alabama 13 (10 inn.)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.?Samford junior outfielder David Schulze singled up the middle to drive in Stephen Ballard with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Bulldog baseball team to a 14-13 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide Wednesday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
“This was as resilient an effort as you could have,” Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. “You can’t ask anything more of the kids than the way they fought and played hard and just continued to score.”
Samford was led at the plate by Wayne Miller, going 3-for-6 with a home run, a triple and four RBI. Bo Smith was 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI, while Ballard was 3-for-6 with an RBI.
Schulze finished the night 1-for-5 at the plate with an RBI. Brad Moss also homered in a 1-for-2 performance for Samford. Mason Meredeth extended his current hitting streak to 22 games, going 1-for-5 on the night.
Bronson McGriff pitched the final inning for Samford to earn the win and improve to 1-0 on the season. McGriff was one of six pitchers used in the game by the Bulldogs. Josh Martin, Dayne Cutrell, Grant Sides, Mark Lewallyn and Kyle Nichols also saw action on the mound for Samford.
Alabama’s Jake Smith hit for the cycle, going 4-for-5 with a home run, a triple, a double and two RBI. Ross Wilson and Brandon May also had home runs for the Crimson Tide.
Smith also pitched the final 3.0 innings for Alabama, giving up two runs on four hits to take the loss and drop to 0-1 on the season. Smith was one of five pitchers used in the game by Alabama.
Samford held a 13-11 lead heading into the ninth inning. After Del Howell was hit by a pitch, Cal Tinsley, who pinch ran for Howell, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Dugas. Josh Rutledge then walked and Tinsley advanced to third base on a fly out. Rutledge then stole second base and both runners scored when the throw to second base was kicked into center field to tie the score and force extra innings.
With one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Ballard singled up the middle to start the game-winning rally. Meredeth then fouled out to third base and Ballard advanced to second base. Schulze then singled up the middle to bring in the winning run.
Alabama jumped on top first with a run in the top of the first inning, but Samford came back to tie the score with a run in the bottom of the first.
Alabama plated one run in the second inning and two more in the third to take a 4-1 lead. Samford, however, came back to tie the score with three runs in the third inning. Smith drove in one run and Trey Hayes drove in two in the third to tie the score at 4-4.
After each team scored a run in the fourth inning, Alabama took a 6-5 lead with a run in the fifth inning.
Samford took the lead with three runs in the sixth inning at 8-6. Miller homered to center field with Michael Johnson and Stewart Young on base to give Samford its first lead of the game.
Alabama came back with four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead back at 10-8. Clay Jones, Kyle Moore, Dugas and Rutledge drove in a run each for Alabama in the inning.
Samford answered with five runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 13-10 lead. Joe Durham drove in a run and later scored on a wild pitch in the inning. Miller and Ballard each drove in a run in the inning, while Johnson scored from third base on a balk for the Bulldogs.
“I think the seventh inning when they scored four runs and we answered with five was the story of the game,” Dunn said.
Alabama added one run in the eighth inning to cut the lead to 13-11 and set the stage for the Crimson Tide’s comeback in the ninth inning to force extra innings.
With the win, Samford improves to 13-24 overall. Alabama drops to 24-13 on the season with the loss.
Samford will return to action on Friday when the Bulldogs open a three-game Southern Conference series at Western Carolina. Friday’s series-opener is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. (CT) from Cullowhee, N.C.
UNC Greensboro 10, Wake Forest 4
GREENSBORO, NC ? UNC Greensboro exploded for five runs in the third and sixth innings as the Spartans defeated Wake Forest, 10-4, on Wednesday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans have now won four of their last five games, including a pair of wins over ACC opponents.
Sophomore Warren Slack pitched four innings of two-hit relief for the Spartans (12-18) to push his record to a perfect 3-0 this season. Ray Quinones helped pace the Spartans at the plate as he hit a pair of two RBI doubles in the game.
Wake Forest reliever Gabe Feldman allowed five runs in two innings of relief to pick up the loss for the Demon Deacons (20-16).
The Demon Deacons kicked off the scoring in the top of the first on a pair of runs. With one down in the inning, Shane Kroker drew a walk before advancing to third on a double by Dustin Hood. Kroker would later score on a Mike Murray sacrifice fly and Hood scored to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors on Weldon Woodall’s RBI single up the middle.
The Spartans batted around in the bottom of the third and plated five runs to take the early 5-2 lead. Kris Richards began the rally for the Spartans as he was issued a walk around a pair of groundouts. Corey Overholtzer kicked off the scoring on an RBI double down the right field line to score Richards. Pedro Leon followed with an RBI single to tie the game at two before moving over to third on Ed Jayjack’s single through the right side. Ray Quinones hit his seventh double of the season off the base of the right field wall to score Leon and Jayjack and give the Spartans a 4-2 edge. Quinones then scored on Trevor Edwards’ single down the right field line to cap off the scoring in the inning.
UNCG was able to take advantage of three Demon Deacon errors in the sixth inning as the Spartans scored five runs on just one hit to extend their lead to 10-2. Leadoff batter Bradley Raynor reached second on an error by the Wake Forest right fielder. Raynor would later score on a wild pitch on a walk to Alex Frederick. Frederick moved to third when Kris Richards was able to reach first on a throwing error by the third baseman. The Deacs committed their third error of the inning as O’Berry reached first and Frederick scored. Richards would then score on a sacrifice fly by Jayjack to give UNCG an 8-2 lead. Quinones followed with his second double of the evening to put the Spartans ahead 10-2.
Wake Forest took advantage of a Spartan error in the top of the ninth as the Demon Deacons scored two unearned runs to make the final score 10-4.
The Spartans will return to action this weekend as they host fellow SoCon opponent The Citadel for a three-game series during the Second Annual Katie Ball Memorial Weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday.
College of Charleston 12, UNC Wilmington 6
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. -- Brandon Sizemore (Jacksonville, Fla.) homered and drove in four runs and starting pitcher Kevin Decker (Washington, Ind.) worked into the sixth inning as the College of Charleston downed UNC Wilmington 12-6 in college baseball action before 576 at Patriots Point Stadium on Wednesday.
With the win, Charleston improved to 22-13, while the Seahawks fell to 21-13. The Cougars play host to Appalachian State at 6 p.m. on Friday in the opener of a three-game Southern Conference series.
Sizemore's double in the first inning gave Charleston a 2-0 lead. Joash Brodin (Olympia, Wash.) capped the inning with a run-producing grounder that staked the Cougars to a 3-0 advantage.
Matt Holt's two-out, two-run single to right in the top of the second cut Charleston's lead to 3-2. An RBI groundout from Hutson Dodds (Charleston, S.C.) in the third inning and a Seahawks throwing error in the fourth inning allowed Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) to score and stretched Charleston's lead to 6-2.
Sizemore opened the bottom of the fifth with his team-leading 15th homer on the season, a shot to left, to give the Cougars a 6-2 advantage. Sizemore's two-run double to left in the sixth gave Charleston an 8-4 lead.
After UNCW's Cody Stanley led off the top of the seventh with a homer to right to cut the lead to 8-5, Charleston added a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Austin Morgan (Katy, Tex.) delivered a sacrifice fly to center and Dodds produced his second RBI grounder of the game for a 10-5 Charleston advantage.
In the eighth inning, Joash Brodin had an RBI single and Matt Mansilla (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) followed with a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring.
Rakar and Sizemore paced Charleston's 16-hit attack with three hits each.
Decker (1-0) picked up the win allowing four runs on five hits with four strikeouts over the first 5 2/3 innings. Cameron Roth (0-1) suffered the loss surrendering four runs, three earned, on five hits over three innings.
Elon 5, Old Dominion 4
ELON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix saw a 3-1 lead evaporate in the late innings only to rally with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to earn a 5-4 non-league baseball victory over the visiting Old Dominion Monarchs on Wednesday afternoon. Elon improved its record to 21-12 on the 2009 campaign while ODU saw its mark dip to 12-20.
Justin Hilt sent the second pitch from Cory Toth over the center field fence to begin the Elon first. The homer was the 10th of the year for Hilt.
Edgar Hernandez tied the game with his first home run of the season, this one a solo shot to left.
Pat Irvine put Elon back on top by a run in the fourth inning by belting a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right for his team-leading 13th home run of the season.
In the sixth, the Phoenix had Irvine on second and Mike Melillo on first with two outs before Dallas Tarleton blooped a single down the left field line to drive home Irvine to improve Elon's lead to 3-1.
Hernandez led off the ODU eighth with a single up the middle and went to third on Max Most's double to the gap in left. Gerard Hall followed with a single through the right side to plate Hernandez. On the throw in, Hall took second. The Monarchs loaded the bags when Jake McAloose walked. Jordan Darnell came on and uncorked a wild pitch that scored Most to tie the game at three. Darnell then walked Donnie Corsner on four straight out of the zone, reloading the bases. The Monarchs moved on top when Brett Harris bounced into a double play.
Irvine started the Elon eighth with a double and moved to third on Bennett Davis' bunt single. A wild pitch from Matt Walls allowed both runners to move up and Elon knotted the score at four apiece. Davis moved to third on a Melillo sac bunt. Pinch-hitter Ryan Adams followed with a sacrifce fly to left to score Davis and Elon moved back on top, 5-4.
Darnell (1-0) earned his first career victory after walking one and not allowing a run in an inning. Thomas Girdwood came on and gave up one hit in the ninth, but struck out two to claim his ninth save of the season.
Phoenix starter Tom Porter did not earn a decision despite having a career day on the mound. Porter threw a career-best 7.0 innings and was charged with two runs. He also struck out a career-high seven hitters.
Matt Walls (0-1) was charged with the defeat after he gave up two runs on two hits in a third of an inning. Monarch starter Cory Toth allowed three runs on five hits in 7.0 innings.
Irvine finished the day 3-for-3 and was a triple shy of the cycle. He drove in one and scored three times. Neal Pritchard finished 0-for-3 to see his career-best hitting streak halted at 11 games for Elon who won in its last at bat for the first time this year. Cory Harrilchak extended his streak of reaching base safely to 66 games thanks to a 1-for-4 day.
Hernandez paced the ODU attack, going 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored. Most also had a two-hit day, posting a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
Elon will play host to North Carolina Central on both Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m.
Furman 16, Presbyterian 6
CLINTON, S.C. -- Campbell Lewis went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and scored four runs to power Furman to a 16-6 win over Presbyterian in baseball action Wednesday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex.
Lewis, a senior outfielder from Atlanta, Ga., delivered an RBI single in a seven-run Furman second inning, connected on a three-run home run in the fifth, walked and scored in the sixth, and finished off his performance in the eighth with a double and run.
The victory gave Furman (15-18) the three-game season sweep of Presbyterian (5-28) and marked the Paladins’ first contest in Clinton since 1964.
Matt Hemingway doubled and scored twice and also drove in a pair of runs, and Marcus Rose went 3-for-3, stole two bases, and scored two runs. Justin Holloway also crossed the plate with three runs and collected a pair of hits for the Paladins, who banged out 16 hits in the contest.
J.P. Goldsberry (2-4) used the strong run support to earn the victory, going five innings and allowing eight hits and three runs. He walked one and fanned two.
Furman’s early inning offensive came at the expense of Presbyterian starting and losing pitcher Anrew Foushee (1-5), who was charged with all seven runs in 1 2/3 innings of work.
Lewis got the Paladins’ seven-run seventh started with an RBI single to right field that scored Will Miller. Rose then stroked a two-out RBI single into right center field, and Reese Wade delivered a two-run single to make it 4-0. Hemingway kept the inning going with a two-run double to left field, and Chris Cowart capped the frame with an RBI single to center to score Hemingway.
Furman tallied a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth on Lewis’ three-run blast to left field to make it 11-0.
PC got on the board with three runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run home run by Ryan Combs.
The Paladins put the game away with four runs in the sixth, which included a two-run single by Nick Karow.
Furman returns to action this weekend when it opens a three-game Southern Conference series at Wofford on Friday. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
No. 27 Georgia Southern 4, Jacksonville 2
STATESBORO, Ga. - Andy Moye (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) pitched seven strong innings and Kevin Bowles (Statesboro/Statesboro) delivered the eventual game-winning hit, leading Georgia Southern to a 4-2 non-conference win over Jacksonville Wednesday night (April 15) at J.I. Clements Stadium. The 27th-ranked Eagles improved to 25-9 overall, despite only three base hits.
JU (23-11) held a 2-1 lead in the seventh and threatened for more. After Moye hit Chris Connelly with one out, the sophomore rebounded to strikeout Jamaal Hawkins looking. On a throw over to first, Moye's throw sailed down the first base line, allowing Connelly to third. Moye responded by getting Kyle Fleming on a groundout to end the threat. The Eagles then manufactured a pair of runs which proved to be the game-winner.
Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) drew a one-out walk then Jonathan King (Athens, TN/Young Harris) was hit by a Clay Kollenbaum pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch then on a 1-1 count Bowles dropped a 2-run single into shallow centerfield.
The Eagles got an insurance run in the eighth. Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) drew a leadoff walk then a throwing error by pitcher Chris Kaminski towards second base on Will Southwell's (Moultrie/Colquitt County) third sacrifice bunt of the game put Porter in scoring position. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bryant) dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. With the infield drawn in, Pierce hit a grounder to shortstop Hawkins but it was just enough to allow Porter to score for the final margin.
Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) worked around a two-out infield single by Hawkins to earn his sixth save. With nine career saves, Kamppi now ranks ninth on the Georgia Southern all-time list.
In the second inning GS struck first. Eric Phillips (Carrollton/Carrollton) reached on a throwing error by Hawkins to start. Porter walked then Southwell executed a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Carson Andrew uncorked a wild pitch which allowed Phillips to score.
Alex Martinez hit a two-out, 2-run homer in the fourth to give the Dolphins a 2-1 lead. Andrew and Kyle Kriech held the Eagles in check through six, both allowing just one hit.
"My fastball came out really well tonight and I was hitting my locations, now I can go out and build on this performance and throw like I know I can. You have to credit our defense as well, they have played great day in and day out," said Moye. "After I threw the ball away (in the seventh, allowing a runner to advance to third), I knew I had to bear down and get the final out to give our team a chance. This is another confidence-building win heading into a key Southern Conference series this weekend."
Moye (4-0) gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out seven. The innings pitched was the second-longest outing of his career while the seven strikeouts were tied for third-best. Colin Snow (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) worked out of a two-on jam in the eighth, getting a line drive to end the frame.
Bowles, King and Benedict accounted for the hits. Benedict extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. However, Ty Wright (Montrose/ABAC), who hit a line drive right at third baseman Glen Johnson to start the game, and Pierce had their streaks end at 16 and 10 games, respectively.
Kollenbaum (1-1) was charged for two runs on one hit as the JU pitching staff hit two batters and walked six Eagles. Johnson had two of the team's seven hits.
The Eagles return to Southern Conference play this weekend, playing host to Davidson. First pitch on Friday night (April 17) is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Appalachian State 12, Gardner-Webb 10
BOONE, N.C. ? Appalachian State University baseball dug out of an early 4-0 hole with 11-straight runs and held on for an 12-10 victory over Gardner-Webb on Wednesday evening at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
With the triumph, Appalachian (19-16) extended its winning streak to eight games. ASU has won 13 of its last 15 after a 6-14 start.
As has become the norm in their mid-week contests, the Mountaineers fell into an early hole, as Gardner-Webb (17-15) scored four runs in the top of the first inning. The Apps trailed 5-0 after one inning last Tuesday at Tennessee and this Tuesday against ETSU but battled back for victories in both games.
Appalachian erased the deficit and then some with an eight-run second inning. The first eight batters of the inning reached base, highlighted by a three-run home run by Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) and a grand slam by Isaac Harrow (Hickory, N.C./Hickory). Rand Smith (Bolivia, N.C./South Brunswick) extended his hitting streak to 24 games ? one shy of the ASU record ? with an RBI single in the frame.
The Mountaineers added three more runs in the third to extend their lead to 11-4. Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) drove in a run with one of his four singles on the evening and Chris Alessandria (Ponte Vedra, Fla./Nease) drove a two-run double to right center field to account for the scoring in the third.
Gardner-Webb rallied for five runs in the fifth and added another run in the sixth to cut the deficit to 11-10. The Mountaineers’ lead almost evaporated completely on a double down the left field line by GWU’s Ty Boyles with two outs in the sixth, but Alessandria tracked the ball down in the corner and made a strong throw to shortstop Nick DeRose (Winston-Salem, N.C./R.J. Reynolds), whose relay to catcher Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) easily beat Max Fulginiti ? who was trying to score from second on the play ? to the plate. Dowdy bobbled the throw and a collision ensued. Fulginiti was called out due to not avoiding contact on the play at the plate as required by NCAA rules.
Appalachian added an insurance run when Harrow led off the eighth with a double and came around to score on a wild pitch. The run proved to be unnecessary, however, as ASU relievers Nick Daniels (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) and Chris Patterson (Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland County) combined to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard for the final three innings. Patterson allowed only one hit in working the final two stanzas for his first-career save.
Taylor Miller (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) (2-2) came on with two outs in the bottom of the first and held GWU scoreless over the next three frames to earn the win.
Bulldogs starter Michael Lewis (2-1) surrendered seven runs in one-plus inning of work to suffer his first loss of the season. The ?Dogs were led offensively by Fulginiti, who finished 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.
In the midst of its longest winning streak since 1996, Appalachian travels to perennial Southern Conference-power College of Charleston for a pivotal three-game series this weekend. The series lid-lifter is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Charleston’s Patriots Point Park.
Duke 15, Wofford 9
DURHAM, N.C. ? The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 15-9 by Duke at Jack Coombs Field on Wednesday evening. In a slow-paced game that featured a combined twenty walks, the Blue Devils scored seven runs in the fourth to pull away in the contest.
Wofford is 14-17 on the season and 5-9 in the Southern Conference. Duke is 26-13 overall and 9-9 in the ACC. The Terriers were led by Konstantine Diamaduros with three hits and Mike McDonnell with four RBIs. Duke was led by Eric Pfisterer with three hits and three RBIs.
The Terriers opened the game with a lead-off hit from Michael Gilmartin, but a double play ended the scoring chance. With two out in the bottom of the first, a double from Alex Hassan scored one run. Another double from Jake Lemmerman drove in two more runs to take a 3-0 lead at the end of the first.
Both teams left one runner on base in the second inning. In the top of the third, Jake Williams opened with a double and he scored on a single from James Foster. Kyle Behrendt reached on an error and Konstantine Diamaduros singled to add a run for a 3-2 score. Mike McDonnell then hit a three-run shot to left center to score three runs and take a 5-3 lead.
Duke answered in the bottom of the third. After loading the bases with three walks, Eric Pfisterer hit a double to score two runs. Ryan McCurdy added an RBI single to give Duke the lead back at 6-5.
Wofford loaded the bases in the top of the fourth on two walks and a single by Kyle Behrendt. A single up the right side by Konstantine Diamaduros scored two runs to regain the lead for the Terriers at 7-6. Michael McDonnell grounded out to plate another run and Wofford had an 8-6 advantage.
Again, the Blue Devils answered the Terriers as an error and a triple from Jake Lemmerman combined to score three runs. An RBI single from Eric Pfisterer added another run and Duke had a 10-8 lead. With the bases loaded, one run was walked in and a double from Alex Hassan scored two more runs before the end of the inning as Duke took a 13-8 lead.
The Terriers loaded the bases with two out in the top of the fifth, but all three were left on base. Duke added a run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from Jeremy Gould to extend the lead to 14-8.
In the top of the seventh, Jake Williams had a double and a two-out double from James Foster scored Williams for a 14-9 score. But Duke got the one run back on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 15-9 game.
Wofford starter Jordan Mickleberry threw the first two innings with three hits and five runs allowed with one strikeout. Anthony Rowland went an inning allowing one run on two hits. Bobby DeLuria threw the fourth inning and allowed seven runs (four earned) on five hits with one strikeout. Drew Sheridan pitched the fifth and struck out one without a hit. J.D. Osborne threw the sixth with one run on two hits. Bobby Streisel went the seventh, allowing one run without a hit. Drew Cornley pitched a one-two-three eighth with one strikeout.
For the Blue Devils, starter Ryan Knott went 3.1 innings with seven runs allowed on six hits with four strikeouts. Kyle Butler threw an inning with two hits and one run allowed with a strikeout. Joe Pedevillano went 1.2 innings with one hit and a strikeout. Tim Sherlock threw two innings with two hits and a run allowed with a strikeout. David Putman pitched the ninth with two strikeouts.
After completing the two-game ACC swing on Tobacco Road, next for the Terriers will be a three-game home series against Furman beginning on Friday at 6:00 pm at Russell C. King Field.
No. 18 Clemson 13, Western Carolina 2
Clemson, S.C. - No. 18 Clemson scored six of its 13 runs in the first inning, including four on a Kyle Parker grand slam home run, to complete the seasonal sweep of Western Carolina, 13-2, Wednesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
WCU falls to 20-14 on the heels of its third-straight loss, while the Tigers moved to 25-12 overall.
Clemson pushed across all six runs in the opening inning before WCU could record a single out to lead after one, 6-0. A solo home run by Ben Paulsen pushed the advantage to seven, 7-0, before the Catamounts could respond in the fourth.
Freshman Ross Heffley singled to left field to lead off the visitor's half of the frame and was moved to third two batters later thanks to a wild pitch and a chopping single to third by senior J.C. Lyons. With two out, senior Mitchell Hatley delivered a single to center to plate both runners and pull Western within five, 7-2.
Lyons accounted for two of Western's seven hits on the night with a pair of singles and a run scored in the loss.
Clemson answered Western's two-spot in the top of the fourth with two runs of its own in the bottom of the frame, and concluded the scoring in the fifth with four runs on four hits despite stranding the bases loaded.
Freshman Kyle Stewart (3-1) suffered the loss, allowing all six earned runs on two hits with four walks without recording an official inning pitched. Classmate Andrew Blackwell tossed three and two-thirds in relief surrendering three runs on seven hits, working around two walks with three strikeouts. Matt Benedict gave up the four remaining runs in two-thirds of an inning pitched, walking one with a pair of hit batsmen.
WCU's four remaining relievers - Mike Tavernier, Tyler Brownlow, Brandon Johnson and Daniel Ottone - combined to toss the final three and two-thirds of scoreless relief, only allowing three base hits.
Tiger reliever Alex Frederick (1-0) earned the win after throwing one inning of scoreless, one-hit relief work behind the quality start from David Haselden who scattered five hits and two earned runs in four innings.
Clemson had five players post multi-hit games even with the early substitutions. Parker, who played all nine innings, finished 4-for-5 with four RBI coming on the first inning round-tripper, while Jason Stolz finished 3-for-4 with two driven in. Paulsen scored three runs, including one on his solo shot in the second which was his lone hit of the night.
Western Carolina returns to Southern Conference action this weekend as it hosts league newcomer, Samford, for the first-time in school history. First pitch on Friday and Saturday at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium is set for 6:00 pm, with Sunday's finale scheduled for 2:00 pm.